CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The Venezuelan opposition leader
who has declared himself interim president appeared in public Friday for the
first time in days and vowed to remain on the streets to usher in a
transitional government, while President Nicolas Maduro dug in and accused his
opponents of orchestrating a coup.

In one of the dueling press conferences, Juan Guaido urged
thousands of supporters gathered in a Caracas plaza to hold a mass protest
again next week as he moves forward with proposals of amnesty for military
leaders and the arrival of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, Maduro spoke at the
same time before a room of journalists and decried what he called a coup
against his government.

Each man appeared ready to defend his claim to the
presidency no matter the cost, with Guaido telling his followers that if he is
arrested then they should “stay the course” and peacefully protest
for change.

“As the famous phrase goes, ‘You can cut the flower but
you cannot keep spring from coming,'” Guaido said.

The troubled South American nation has plunged into a new
chapter of political turmoil this week after tens of thousands of Venezuelans
frustrated with their nation’s crippling economic and humanitarian crisis took
to the streets demanding Maduro step down in a rally of support for Guaido as
he took a symbolic oath to become the interim president.

U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet’s office said
Friday that it had credible reports that security forces or members of
pro-government armed groups had shot at least 20 people during protests on
Tuesday and Wednesday. It called for an investigation into the violence. The
nonprofit Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict has said gunfire during
protests and looting left 21 dead between Wednesday and early Thursday.

The Trump administration quickly recognized Guaido, and a
defiant Maduro announced he was breaking ties with the United States hours later, accusing the American
leader of meddling in Venezuela’s
affairs. Some U.S. diplomats
began exiting Venezuela
on Friday. Maduro has also called home all Venezuelan diplomats from the U.S. and closed its embassy in Washington Thursday.

Backed by Venezuela’s military, Maduro has refused to show
any hint he’s ready to cede power, setting up a potentially explosive struggle,
though he said Friday that he remains open to talking with the opposition. The
government and opposition held talks that fell apart last year, with the
opposition saying they would only agree to an accord allowing a fair election.

The election last year was criticized by much of the
international community because Maduro’s most popular opponents were barred
from running and it lacked basic guarantees like a team of impartial observers.

“Today, tomorrow and always I am committed to
dialogue,” Maduro said.

Besides the U.S.,
Canada, much of Latin
America and many countries in Europe have
thrown their support behind Guaido. Trump has promised to use the “full
weight” of U.S.
economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration of Venezuela’s
democracy. Russia, China, Iran,
Syria, Cuba and Turkey have voiced their backing
for Maduro’s government.

Maduro has been increasingly accused of undemocratic
behavior by his opponents and has presided over skyrocketing inflation, a
collapsing economy and widespread shortages of basic goods.

China’s
Foreign Ministry called on the U.S.
to stay out of the crisis, while Russia’s
deputy foreign minister warned the U.S.
against any military intervention in Venezuela. Alexei Pushkov, chairman
of the information committee at the Russian Federation Council, called Guaido’s
declaration “an attempted coup” backed by the U.S.

Russia
has been propping up Maduro with arms and loans. Maduro visited Moscow in December, seeking Russia’s political and financial
support. Over the last decade, China
has given Venezuela
$65 billion in loans, cash and investment. Venezuela owes more than $20
billion.

At an emergency meeting Thursday, 16 nations from the
Organization of American States recognized Guaido as interim president. But the
International Monetary Fund has said it will follow the position of its member
states, which have come down on both sides of the question.

Attention was focused on Venezuela’s military, a traditional
arbiter of political disputes in the country, as a critical indicator of
whether the opposition will succeed in setting up a new government.

Venezuela’s
military brass pledged unwavering support to Maduro, delivering vows of loyalty
Thursday before rows of green-uniformed officers on state television.

A half-dozen generals belonging largely to district commands
and with direct control over thousands of troops joined Maduro in accusing Washington of meddling in Venezuela’s affairs and said they
would uphold the socialist leader’s rule.

“It’s not a war between Venezuelans that will solve our
problems,” he said. “It’s dialogue.”

Guaido’s father, who has lived in Spain for the last 16 years, has
called on the military to drop its allegiance to Maduro.

Wilmer Guaido, a taxi driver on the island of Tenerife, told
private Antena 3 television Friday that Venezuela’s armed forces should be
loyal to the country, but not to a specific leader.

“(Simon) Bolivar used to curse against soldiers who
give their back to the people,” Guaido said, referring to Venezuela’s
independence hero. “I think the military should choose the right side of
history.”

Juan Guaido has said he needs the backing of three key
groups: The people, the international community and the military. While
Thursday’s protest drew tens of thousands to the streets and over a dozen
nations in the region pledged support, the military’s backing is crucial.

Although many rank-and-file troops suffer the same hardships
as countless other Venezuelans when it comes to basic needs like feeding their
families, Maduro has worked to cement their support with bonuses and other
special benefits.

In a video earlier this week, Guaido said the constitution
requires the military to disavow Maduro after his May 2018 re-election, which
was widely condemned by the international community because his main opponents
were banned from running.

But there were no signs that security forces were widely
heeding Guaido’s call to go easy on demonstrators.

Many Venezuelans are awaiting Guaido’s guidance on the
often-beleaguered opposition’s next steps.

A virtually unknown lawmaker at the start of the year,
Guaido has reignited opposition hopes by taking a rebellious tack amid Venezuela’s
crushing economic crisis. He escalated his campaign Wednesday by declaring the
constitution gives him, as president of the congress, the authority to take
over as interim president and form a transitional government until he calls new
elections.